Process of purifying water and composition therefor



I i i t l Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED S ATES PATENT FFICE PROCESS OFPURIFYING WATER AND COM- POSITION THEREFOR Earl Vincent Godfrey,Philadelphia, Pa. asslgnor of one-half to Joseph A. Rossi, Oynwyd, Pa.

No Drawing. Application May I, 1940,

Serial-No. 333,786

2 Claims. (01. 210-23) treated water shall be free from obnoxious odors.or flavor, shall be harmless to persons who drink the water, and shallhave no tendency to bleach the hair or clothing which may be wet withthe water.

I have discovered that these and other objects and advantages, as willlater appear herein, can

be achieved by treating water to be purified with a mixture of potassiumchlorate (K0103) and a solution of ferric chloride (FeCla) U. S. P.which contains free hydrochloric acid (HCl) Reference to the latestedition (1935) of the United States Pharmacopoeia, i. e. U. SI P. XI,will show that such a solution of ferric chloride the solution assumes aclear, reddish brown color. After eifervescence ceases, heat on a sandbath, stirring occasionally until the liquid is free from nitric acid,according to such test as is known to chemists familiar with such acids.

During the heating, add distilledwaterfrom time to time to maintainabout the original volume. Finally add the remaining 40 grams ofhydrochloric acid and enough distilled water to make the solution weigh1000 grams.

In the first step of the process, ferrous chloride is produced; thus:

Fe: 4H0l (Foch), 41! Iron Hydrochloric Ferrous Hydrogen acid chlorideFerrous chloride is converted into ferric chloride by the addition ofnitric acid andhydrochlo- V ric acid; thus:

BFeCh 6110i +2HNOi= fiFeClr N202 41110 Ferrous Hydro- Nitric FerricNitrogen Water includes not less than 3% and not more than 5% vhydrochloric acid.

The same United States Pharmacopoeia requires that the solution containferric chloride corresponding to not less than and not more than 11%iron. To meet these requirements, the following formula should befollowed in the manufacture of the ferric chloride: 7

g Y Grams Iron, in the form of fine, bright wire and out into smallpieces 125 Hydrochloric acid 680 Nitric acid, }each, a sufficientquantity Distilled water to make 1000 Introduce the iron into a flaskhaving a capacity of about 2000 cc., pour upon it a mixture of 420 gramsof hydrochloric acid and 250 cc. of distilled water and heat the mixtureon a water bath for not less than one hour'and fifteen minutes. or untileflervescence ceases; then boil the liquid, filter it through paper,and, having rinsed the flaskand iron wire with a little hot distilledwater, pass the rinsings through the filter. To the filtered liquid add220 grams of hydrochloric acid, then add the mixture slowly andgradually in a stream to 65 grams of nitric acid contained in a. tared,capacious porcelain vessel, and warm gently. If the solution hasacquired a black color, continue the addition of nitric acid,'d'rop bydrop,

chloride chlo riio acid chloride dioxide If this solution, whenfinished, has a black color, it is due to incomplete oxidation, and theremedy is to heat it. to boiling in acapacious dish, adding a few dropsof nitric acid until the color changes to a clear ruby-red andeffervescence'ceases. If a brown precipitate is deposited upon dilutionor standing, deficiency of hydrochloric acid is indicated, and thesolution must be heated. and a few drops of the acid added until theprecipitate isdissdlved; but an-excess of hydrochloric acid must beavoided.

Specifically describing one example of my process and .composition,about two hundred thirty-one and one-half (231 /2) grains or sixteen(16) grams of potassium chlorate is added to about one (1) Pint or fivehundred (.500) cubic centimeters of ferric chloride solution (U. S. P.)and thoroughly mixed.- Then three (3) drops of this mixture is added toeach gallon of water to be purified, with thorough agitation or stirringof the water. The treated water is then allowed to stand untilprecipitation and coagulation is complete. Generally twenty-four hoursis willcient. Thereafter, the water is filtered to remove theprecipitates and solid matter. Where small quantities of water are beingpurified, the filtrauntil red fumes no longer are evolved and pools.

large quantities of water, it is preferable to filter through sand. Thewhole process may be performed at ordinary temperatures, and preferablyin daylight. The composition can be added to the water in reservoirs,tanks. and swimming During the treatment-a chemical reaction occursthus:

The chlorine dioxide (C102) a strong oxidizer, and the free chlorine(C1) are liberated or produced as the result of chemical reactiondirectly in the water, and eilectually cause oxidation and destructionof the animal, vegetable and other harmful matter that is present in thewater being treated. The purified water is free from obnoxious odors andunpleasant flavors, and the nature of the process and composition andthe results thereof, are harmless to persons who may art thatmodifications can be made in the proportions of the potassium chlorateand ferric chloride and in the steps of the process without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The process oi sterilizing and purifyin water which consists inadding to each gallon 01 water to be purified about three (3) drops of amixture consisting of about sixteen (16) grams 01' potassium chlorateand about five hundred (500) cubic centimeters of a solution of ferricchloride U. S. P. which contains not less than three (3%) per cent andnot more than five (5%) per cent free hydrochloric acid, and agitatingthe water containing said mixture.

2. A composition of matter for the purification of water consisting of amixture of about sixteen (16) grams of potassium chlorate and about fivehundred (500) cubic centimeters of a solution of ferric chloride U. S.P. which contains not less than three per cent (3%) nor more than fiveper cent (5%) of free hydrochloric acid.

EARL VINCENT GODFREY.

